NGSS Middle School Conservation of Energy Performance Assessment PS3-5

In these NGSS aligned activities/assessments, students begin with a brainstorming activity designed to reveal their conceptions and possible misconceptions about energy. Then an Energy Concept Map is provided to review energy concepts. Next, students brainstorm and record examples of heat, light, sound, electrical, and mechanical energy from their everyday experiences.
Students observe changes in the kinetic energy of bouncing, flashing balls in order to observe and collect evidence to support a claim with an argument that when the kinetic energy of the ball changes, there are energy changes and energy transformations. “Science Notes” are provided for reading in the content area with a writing prompt for pre- or post-assessment.
A template is included for students to use when planning and conducting an investigation to gather evidence to support their claim.
These NGSS aligned activities/assessments include teaching tips, teacher background information, student recording sheets, an investigation template, rubrics, an Energy Concept Map, “Science Notes,” and writing prompt.
MS-PS3-5. Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object. [Clarification Statement: Examples of empirical evidence used in arguments could include an inventory or other representation of the energy before and after the transfer in the form of temperature changes or motion of object.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include calculations of energy.]